Danilo Gallinari sank three 3-pointers and scored 18 points for the Nuggets, who converted 28 points off 23 Houston turnovers to beat the Rockets for the fifth straight time.

James Harden scored 23 points and Omer Asik grabbed 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who've lost eight of their last nine games.

Denver took control with a 21-5 burst late in the third quarter, turning a flurry of Rockets' turnovers into easy baskets. Houston coach Kevin McHale took point guard Jeremy Lin out of the game with 3:27 left in the quarter, but the Nuggets continued their surge.